Chairman, 2010, 2015
Vice Chairman, 2009, 2014
Elected to the Board of Regents, 2010
Appointed to the Board of Regents, 2006

Bob Phares was first elected mayor of North Platte at the age of 28, which at the
time made him the youngest person ever elected to run a Nebraska city of the first
classification. He served two terms as mayor. He is president and owner of Phares
Financial Services, Inc., a financial planning and services firm in North Platte.

He is a former member of the University of Nebraska President's Advisory Council,
and is the former board president of the Kearney State College Foundation, past
member of the Mid-Plains Community College Foundation, and served as a public representative
on the NU presidential search committee.

Phares is a past president of the League of Nebraska Municipalities and former board
chairman of the North Platte Chamber of Commerce. He is the former director of the
North Platte Development Corporation, NEBRASKAland Days, Inc., and the North Platte
United Way Fund. He has been involved with the Great Plains Regional Medical Center
for more than 20 years, and served eight years as chairman of its board of directors.
He is a past president of the North Platte Rotary Club, and served as district governor
from 1996 to 1997.

Phares was born in Atlantic, Iowa and was raised in North Platte. He received his
degree in business administration, graduating with honors in 1962 from Kearney State
College, now the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK). He was honored for contributions
to his alma mater in 1984 when he received the UNK Distinguished Service and Outstanding
Alumni Award. He has also received Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations from the American College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

"Bob Phares has dedicated a lifetime of service to Nebraska, and I could not have
asked for a more capable, qualified person to represent the best interests of western
Nebraska residents and those of Nebraska's university," Gov. Heineman said. "He
has knowledge of the issues facing our towns, farms and ranches, and has earned
a strong reputation from many years of engaged and active service at every level
of civic leadership. This position provides an opportunity for Bob to bring his
vast experience to bear in working with his fellow regents to chart a strong future
for the University of Nebraska."